. 2021 Oct 25;13:133. doi: 10.1186/s13102-021-00360-7

Table 3.

Physical activity parameters in the active, control, and intervention groups over 3 years

	Group	Baseline	+1-year	+2-year	Interaction effect¹	Baseline +1-year	Baseline +2-year
Step-count (steps/d)	Active	13,447 ± 3180 (N = 230)*	12,199 ± 3446 (N = 211)^¥* [12265 ± 3379]	11,856 ± 3941 (N = 200)^¥* [12138 ± 3981]	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001	PP: p = 0.001 ITT: p = 0.001	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001
Control	8049 ± 2090 (N = 161)	8744 ± 2472 (N = 132) [8567 ± 2494]	8472 ± 3035 (N = 120) [8313 ± 2869]	PP: ns³ ITT: ns³	PP: ns ITT: ns
PA intervention	8415 ± 1924 (N = 183)	9493 ± 2575 (N = 166) ^¥‡ [9247 ± 2633]	8779 ± 2743 (N = 143) [8579 ± 2579]	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001	PP: ns ITT: ns
RCT gr. effect ²	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: p = 0.035 ITT: ns ³	PP: ns ITT: ns
MVPA (MET-h/d)	Active	5.5 ± 2.1 (N = 230)*	5.1 ± 2.6 (N = 211)* [5.1 ± 2.5]	5.3 ± 3.2 (N = 200)* [5.4 ± 3.1]	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns
Control	2.6 ± 1.0 (N = 161)	3.1 ± 1.4 (N = 132)^¥ [3.0 ± 1.4]	3.3 ± 1.9 (N = 120)^¥ [3.1 ± 1.8]	PP: p = 0.01 ITT: p = 0.013	PP: p = 0.01 ITT: p = 0.013
PA intervention	2.7 ± 1.1 (N = 183)	3.6 ± 1.8 (N = 166)^¥‡ [3.5 ± 1.8]	3.5 ± 1.8 (N = 143)^¥ [3.3 ± 1.7]	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001
RCT gr. effect ²	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: p = 0.017 ITT: p = 0.017	PP: ns ITT: ns
≥ 3 MET activity (min/d)	Active	83 ± 24 (N = 227)*	78 ± 30 (N = 211)* [78 ± 29]	80 ± 33 (N = 200)* [80 ± 33]	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns
Control	43 ± 15 (N = 158)	50 ± 20 (N = 132)^¥ [49 ± 20]	53 ± 28 (N = 120)^¥ [50 ± 27]	PP: p = 0.005 ITT: p = 0.007	PP: p = 0.005 ITT: p = 0.006
PA intervention	45 ± 16 (N = 181)	56 ± 22 (N = 166)^¥‡ [55 ± 22]	55 ± 23 (N = 143)^¥ [52 ± 23]	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001
RCT gr. effect ²	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: p = 0.037 ITT: p = 0.035	PP: ns ITT: ns
≥ 4 MET activity (min/d)	Active	27 ± 18 (N = 227)*	24 ± 20 (N = 211)* [24 ± 19]	26 ± 26 (N = 200)* [26 ± 25]	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns
Control	9 ± 8 (N = 158)	11 ± 10 (N = 132) [11 ± 10]	12 ± 14 (N = 120) [12 ± 13]	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns
PA intervention	9 ± 7 (N = 181)	15 ± 14 (N = 166)^¥‡ [15 ± 13]	14 ± 13 (N = 143)^¥ [13 ± 12]	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001
RCT gr. effect ²	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: p = 0.013 ITT: p = 0.012	PP: ns ITT: ns
≥ 5 MET activity (min/d)	Active	9 ± 13 (N = 227)*	8 ± 14 (N = 211)* [8 ± 14]	10 ± 19 (N = 200)* [10 ± 19]	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns
Control	2 ± 4 (N = 158)	3 ± 5 (N = 132) [3 ± 5]	3 ± 6 (N = 120) [3 ± 6]	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns
PA intervention	2 ± 3 (N = 181)	5 ± 8 (N = 166)^¥‡ [4 ± 8]	4 ± 8 (N = 143)^¥ [4 ± 7]	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001	PP: p = 0.009 ITT: p = 0.009
RCT gr. effect ²	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: p = 0.019 ITT: p = 0.019	PP: ns ITT: ns
≥ 6 MET activity (min/d)	Active	5 ± 10 (N = 227)*	5 ± 12 (N = 211) [5 ± 12]	6 ± 16 (N = 200)* [6 ± 16]	PP: p = 0.022 ITT: 0.017	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns
Control	1 ± 2 (N = 158)	1 ± 4 (N = 132) [1 ± 4]	1 ± 4 (N = 120) [1 ± 4]	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns
PA intervention	1 ± 1 (N = 181)	2 ± 7 (N = 166)^¥ [2 ± 6]	2 ± 6 (N = 143) [2 ± 5]	PP: p = 0.008 ITT: p = 0.009	PP: ns³ ITT: ns³
RCT gr. effect ²	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns
Sedentary time (min/d)	Active	212 ± 48 (N = 227)^●	215 ± 51 (N = 211) [214 ± 50]	218 ± 51 (N = 200) [217 ± 52]	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns
Control	224 ± 49 (N = 158)	222 ± 46 (N = 132) [220 ± 45]	222 ± 48 (N = 120) [221 ± 47]	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns
PA intervention	227 ± 47 (N = 181)	218 ± 52 (N = 166) [220 ± 52]	224 ± 49 (N = 143) [223 ± 49]	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns
RCT gr. effect ²	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns
LPA (min/d)	Active	365 ± 95 (N = 227)	364 ± 95 (N = 211) [362 ± 94]	369 ± 98 (N = 200) [369 ± 99]	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: N/A ITT: N/A	PP: N/A ITT: N/A
Control	341 ± 97 (N = 158)	361 ± 98 (N = 132) [352 ± 101]	353 ± 91 (N = 120) [347 ± 94]	PP: N/A ITT: N/A	PP: N/A ITT: N/A
PA intervention	353 ± 96 (N = 181)	344 ± 101 (N = 166) [346 ± 98]	354 ± 96 (N = 143) [349 ± 96]	PP: N/A ITT: N/A	PP: N/A ITT: N/A
RCT gr. effect ²	PP: N/A ITT: N/A	PP: N/A ITT: N/A	PP: N/A ITT: N/A
MPA (min/d)	Active	78 ± 21 (N = 227)*	73 ± 25 (N = 211)* [73 ± 25]	74 ± 25 (N = 200)* [75 ± 25]	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns ITT: ns
Control	42 ± 14 (N = 158)	49 ± 20 (N = 132)^¥ [47 ± 19]	51 ± 26 (N = 120)^¥ [49 ± 24]	PP: p = 0.005 ITT: p = 0.008	PP: p = 0.005 ITT: p = 0.006
PA intervention	44 ± 16 (N = 181)	54 ± 19 (N = 166)^¥ [52 ± 19]	53 ± 21 (N = 143)^¥ [50 ± 21]	PP: p < 0.001 ITT: p < 0.001	PP: p = 0.001 ITT: p = 0.001
RCT gr. effect ²	PP: ns ITT: ns	PP: ns³ ITT: ns³	PP: ns ITT: ns

Group

Baseline

+1-year

+2-year

Interaction effect¹

Baseline
+1-year

Baseline
+2-year

Step-count (steps/d)

Active

13,447 ± 3180 (N = 230)*

12,199 ± 3446 (N = 211)^¥*

[12265 ± 3379]

11,856 ± 3941 (N = 200)^¥*

[12138 ± 3981]

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

PP: p = 0.001

ITT: p = 0.001

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

Control

8049 ± 2090 (N = 161)

8744 ± 2472 (N = 132)

[8567 ± 2494]

8472 ± 3035 (N = 120)

[8313 ± 2869]

PP: ns³

ITT: ns³

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PA intervention

8415 ± 1924 (N = 183)

9493 ± 2575 (N = 166) ^¥‡

[9247 ± 2633]

8779 ± 2743 (N = 143)

[8579 ± 2579]

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

PP: ns

ITT: ns

RCT gr. effect ²

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: p = 0.035

ITT: ns ³

PP: ns

ITT: ns

MVPA

(MET-h/d)

Active

5.5 ± 2.1 (N = 230)*

5.1 ± 2.6 (N = 211)*

[5.1 ± 2.5]

5.3 ± 3.2 (N = 200)*

[5.4 ± 3.1]

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

Control

2.6 ± 1.0 (N = 161)

3.1 ± 1.4 (N = 132)^¥

[3.0 ± 1.4]

3.3 ± 1.9 (N = 120)^¥

[3.1 ± 1.8]

PP: p = 0.01

ITT: p = 0.013

PP: p = 0.01

ITT: p = 0.013

PA intervention

2.7 ± 1.1 (N = 183)

3.6 ± 1.8 (N = 166)^¥‡

[3.5 ± 1.8]

3.5 ± 1.8 (N = 143)^¥

[3.3 ± 1.7]

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

RCT gr. effect ²

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: p = 0.017

ITT: p = 0.017

PP: ns

ITT: ns

≥ 3 MET activity

(min/d)

Active

83 ± 24 (N = 227)*

78 ± 30 (N = 211)*

[78 ± 29]

80 ± 33 (N = 200)*

[80 ± 33]

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

Control

43 ± 15 (N = 158)

50 ± 20 (N = 132)^¥

[49 ± 20]

53 ± 28 (N = 120)^¥

[50 ± 27]

PP: p = 0.005

ITT: p = 0.007

PP: p = 0.005

ITT: p = 0.006

PA intervention

45 ± 16 (N = 181)

56 ± 22 (N = 166)^¥‡

[55 ± 22]

55 ± 23 (N = 143)^¥

[52 ± 23]

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

RCT gr. effect ²

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: p = 0.037

ITT: p = 0.035

PP: ns

ITT: ns

≥ 4 MET activity

(min/d)

Active

27 ± 18 (N = 227)*

24 ± 20 (N = 211)*

[24 ± 19]

26 ± 26 (N = 200)*

[26 ± 25]

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

Control

9 ± 8 (N = 158)

11 ± 10 (N = 132)

[11 ± 10]

12 ± 14 (N = 120)

[12 ± 13]

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PA intervention

9 ± 7 (N = 181)

15 ± 14 (N = 166)^¥‡

[15 ± 13]

14 ± 13 (N = 143)^¥

[13 ± 12]

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

RCT gr. effect ²

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: p = 0.013

ITT: p = 0.012

PP: ns

ITT: ns

≥ 5 MET activity

(min/d)

Active

9 ± 13 (N = 227)*

8 ± 14 (N = 211)*

[8 ± 14]

10 ± 19 (N = 200)*

[10 ± 19]

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

Control

2 ± 4 (N = 158)

3 ± 5 (N = 132)

[3 ± 5]

3 ± 6 (N = 120)

[3 ± 6]

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PA intervention

2 ± 3 (N = 181)

5 ± 8 (N = 166)^¥‡

[4 ± 8]

4 ± 8 (N = 143)^¥

[4 ± 7]

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

PP: p = 0.009

ITT: p = 0.009

RCT gr. effect ²

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: p = 0.019

ITT: p = 0.019

PP: ns

ITT: ns

≥ 6 MET activity

(min/d)

Active

5 ± 10 (N = 227)*

5 ± 12 (N = 211)

[5 ± 12]

6 ± 16 (N = 200)*

[6 ± 16]

PP: p = 0.022

ITT: 0.017

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

Control

1 ± 2 (N = 158)

1 ± 4 (N = 132)

[1 ± 4]

1 ± 4 (N = 120)

[1 ± 4]

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PA intervention

1 ± 1 (N = 181)

2 ± 7 (N = 166)^¥

[2 ± 6]

2 ± 6 (N = 143)

[2 ± 5]

PP: p = 0.008

ITT: p = 0.009

PP: ns³

ITT: ns³

RCT gr. effect ²

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

Sedentary time (min/d)

Active

212 ± 48 (N = 227)^●

215 ± 51 (N = 211)

[214 ± 50]

218 ± 51 (N = 200)

[217 ± 52]

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

Control

224 ± 49 (N = 158)

222 ± 46 (N = 132)

[220 ± 45]

222 ± 48 (N = 120)

[221 ± 47]

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PA intervention

227 ± 47 (N = 181)

218 ± 52 (N = 166)

[220 ± 52]

224 ± 49 (N = 143)

[223 ± 49]

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

RCT gr. effect ²

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

LPA (min/d)

Active

365 ± 95 (N = 227)

364 ± 95 (N = 211)

[362 ± 94]

369 ± 98 (N = 200)

[369 ± 99]

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: N/A

ITT: N/A

PP: N/A

ITT: N/A

Control

341 ± 97 (N = 158)

361 ± 98 (N = 132)

[352 ± 101]

353 ± 91 (N = 120)

[347 ± 94]

PP: N/A

ITT: N/A

PP: N/A

ITT: N/A

PA intervention

353 ± 96 (N = 181)

344 ± 101 (N = 166)

[346 ± 98]

354 ± 96 (N = 143)

[349 ± 96]

PP: N/A

ITT: N/A

PP: N/A

ITT: N/A

RCT gr. effect ²

PP: N/A

ITT: N/A

PP: N/A

ITT: N/A

PP: N/A

ITT: N/A

MPA (min/d)

Active

78 ± 21 (N = 227)*

73 ± 25 (N = 211)*

[73 ± 25]

74 ± 25 (N = 200)*

[75 ± 25]

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns

ITT: ns

Control

42 ± 14 (N = 158)

49 ± 20 (N = 132)^¥

[47 ± 19]

51 ± 26 (N = 120)^¥

[49 ± 24]

PP: p = 0.005

ITT: p = 0.008

PP: p = 0.005

ITT: p = 0.006

PA intervention

44 ± 16 (N = 181)

54 ± 19 (N = 166)^¥

[52 ± 19]

53 ± 21 (N = 143)^¥

[50 ± 21]

PP: p < 0.001

ITT: p < 0.001

PP: p = 0.001

ITT: p = 0.001

RCT gr. effect ²

PP: ns

ITT: ns

PP: ns³

ITT: ns³

PP: ns

ITT: ns

Mean ± SD ([] indicating the value for the intent-to-treat treatment)

gr., group; ITT, p-value for the intent-to-treat statistical treatment; LPA, light physical activity; MPA, moderate physical activity; MVPA, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; N/A, non-applicable (for instance, when pairwise comparisons are not conducted due to the absence of interaction); Ns, non-significant; PA, physical activity; PP, p-value for the per-protocol statistical treatment; RCT, randomized controlled trial; “+1-year”: end of the intervention; “+2-year”: 1 year after the end of intervention

¹Not reported in the table, a significant time effect has been observed for step-count, MVPA, ≥ 3 MET activity, ≥ 4 MET activity, ≥ 5 MET activity, ≥ 6 MET activity, MPA (increase) and sedentary time (decrease); in addition, a significant group effect was noted for step-count, MVPA, > 3 MET activity, ≥ 4 MET activity, ≥ 5 MET activity, ≥ 6 MET activity and MPA

²Refer to the difference between the PA intervention and the control group, i.e. not including the active group

³Trend (p < 0.01)

^*Different from the two other groups

^●Different from the intervention group

^‡Different from the control group

^¥Different from the baseline